Electrical switch.



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(Application filed Feb. 23, 1901.

2 Shank-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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- No. 687,422. Patented Nov. 26, I90l.

W. C. CALKINS.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

(Application filed Feb. 23, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' (No Model.)

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UNITED STaTns Parnnrr union.

\VILLIAM O. CALKINS, OF MOMENCE, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,422, dated. November 26, 1901.

Application filed February 23, 1901v Serial No. 48,555. (No model.)

To (0 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. CALKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Momence, in the county of Kankakee and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Switches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appert-ains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain improvements in electrical switches more especially designed for use in connection with dynamos.

It has for its object principally to transfer the current or load from either a number of dynamos or from dynamos conjointly, and to effect such transfer without interruption of the current, and to generally improve the switch mechanism.

It consists of the novel combination and arrangement of the constituent parts of the switch,substantiallyas hereinafter more fully disclosed, and specifically pointed out by the claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure l is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section.

Latitude is allowed herein as to details, as they may be changed or varied at will without departing from the spirit of my invention and the same yet remain intact and be protected.

In constructing and practicing my invention I provide a suitable basel of some nonconducting material as slate, marble, &c. and preferably support it at the corners upon short posts or studs 2, by preference comprising screw-bolts 2, passed through said base, and a board or bracket 2, itself adapted to be suitably secured in position. The screwbolts 2 have slipped thereon, between said base and board, sleeves or stops 2 to provide for spacing off said base't-o make room for the reception of certain parts arranged upon the rear side of said base.

A plurality or number of metallic bars or conductors 3 have one end of each pivoted to a lug 3, secured to the base 1, and the 0pposite end of each pivotally connected to a bar 0", preferably of some non-conducting fibrous material, and this last-named bar has fixed to it about centrally a handle 23, the

whole having the function of a series of levers, the purpose of which will be presently disclosed. A suitable strip or bar 3 of fibrous or non-conducting material may be secured to the base 1 directly in rear of the conductors 3, adapted to effect a close contact or engagement between said conductors and the keepers or contact-points. A numberof lugsections or bridges 4 are also secured to the base 1, opposite the lugs 5, alined lugs and lug-sections having a cut-out or fusible connection at. Said connection consists of a fusible wire or fuse with its ends preferably soldered to the bent or upturned ends of small pieces or terminals e, detachably connected or screwed to each alined lug-section or bridge and lug, respectively. The lug-sections or bridges at are adapted to have interposed or inserted between each two a metal plug or circuit maker and breaker 5 to provide for cutting out the current when desired, while each of the outer or upper sections has a terminal or screw-threaded extension 5 passed through the base 1 and projecting therefrom, and to said terminals are connected the line-wires. To the base 1 are also secured contact-points or keepers 6 6, four for each two or pair of lever bars or conductors 3, of U shape, with the normally top end. of the U of each two contact-points or keepers for each conductor or lever-bar facing each other for the reception of such conductor in either direction of movement. Also one contact-point or keeper 6 of each pair or two is relatively elongated, one of each two pairshaving its preferably screwthreaded extension or terminal (3 which passes through and is nutted to the base 1, connected up, as at 6, with each of two dynamos. The companion contact-points or keepers 6 of each of two pairs are connected up with the diagonally opposite two terminals of lug-sections or bridges l by insulated wires or connections 6. The contact-points or keepers 6 of the other two pairs have their similar screw-threaded extensions or terminals 6 also in like manner passing through and secured to said base, connected up also with diagonal terminals of other of the bridges or lug-sections 4 by insulated wires or connections (3. The aforesaid arrange ment of parts provides for effecting connection between these contact-points or keepers, the line-wires, and the dynamos and for taking or transferring the current or load from either of the dynamos or conjointly from the two dynamos to the line-wires, and yet effect the same without interruption of the current.

In operation it will be seen that with the series of conductors 3 standing perfectly vertica-lly, when they will all be in engagement with elongated contact-points or keepers (3, both dynamcs are utilized. By grasping and actuating the handle 3, so as to shift or move the conductors 3 either to the right or left, one or the other of the dynamos may be brought into use, as may be necessary.

The fusible cut-outs maybe omitted or used, as desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An electrical switch comprising a number of pairs of pivoted conductors and contact-points, each of U shape with their open ends facing each other and adapted to receive said conductors, arranged in an electric cireuit, and means for conjointly actuating said conductors and engaging them alternately with said contact-points or keepers, substantially as set forth.

2. An electrical switch comprising a number of pairs of pivoted conductors and contact-points, connected up in electric circuit, and such contact-points or keepers being of U shape, with their open ends facing each other and adapted to receive said conductors, means for effecting the conjoint actuation of said conductors, said conductors being connected to a common bar having a handle, substantially as set forth.

3. An electrical switch comprising a number of pairs of pivoted conductors and contact-points connected up in electric circuit, said contact-points being U shape, with their open ends presented toward said conductors, and said conductors being connected to a common hand-actuated bar, substantially as set forth.

4. An electrical switch comprising a number of pairs of pivoted conductors and contact-points or keepers connected up in electric circuit, and such contact-points or keepers being of U shape, with their open ends facing each other and adapted to receive said conductors, said contactpoints or keepers being arranged in pairs, one pair for each conductor, and a certain contact-point of each of two pairs being connected to one source of electrical supply and a certain contact-point of each of the remaining two pairs being connected to a separate source of supply, means to effect the conjoint actuation of said conductors, substantially as set forth.

5. An electrical switch comprising a number of pairs of pivoted conductors, corresponding bridges or lug-sections connected to line-wires, and to said conductors, pairs of contact-points or keepers, one pair for each conductor and a certain contact point or keeper of each of two pairs connected to one source of electrical supply and a certain contact-point of each of the remaining two pairs being connected to a separate source of supply, means for connecting the other or companion contact-points or keepers with terminals of said bridges or lug-sections, and means for conjointly actuating said conductors, substantially as set forth.

6. An electrical switch, comprising pairs of pivoted conductors adapted for conjoint actuation, corresponding bridges or lug-sections connected to line-wires and said conductors, pairs of contact-points or keepers, one of each pair being relatively elongated and the elongated contact-points being connected in pairs or twos to electrical sources of supply, respectively, and means of connection between said bridges and the other or companion contactpoints, substantially as set forth.

7. An electrical switch comprising pairs of electrical conductors adapted for conjoint operation, corresponding bridges or lug-sections having connection with the line-wires and fusible connections with said conductors, pairs of U-shaped contact-points or keepers, one of each pair being elongated and the elongated contact-points being connected in pairs to electrical sources of supply,respectively, and means of connection between the other or companion contact-points and said lug-sections, substantially as set forth.

8. An electrical switch comprising pairs of pivoted conductors,corresponding bridges or lug-sections, having line-wi 'e connections, plugs adapted to engage or connect said lugsections, fusible connections between said bridges and conductors, pairs of contactpoints or keepers, one of each pair being elongated and the elongated contact-points being connected in pairs to electrical sources of sup ply, respectively, and means connecting the other or companion contact-points or keepers to said bridges or lug-sections, substantially as set forth.

9. An electrical switch comprising pairs of pivoted conductors, means for conjointly actuating said conductors, corresponding bridges or lug-sections having terminals adapted to be connected to the line-wires, pairs of contact-points or keepers of U shape with the open ends of each pair facing each other, one of each pair being relatively elongated, the elongated contactpoints or keepers being connected up in pairs to electrical sources of supply, respectively, and wire connections between said bridges or lug-sections :and the other or companion contactpoints or keepers, substantially as set forth.

10. An electrical switch comprising pairs of pivoted conductors, means for conjointly actuating said conductors, corresponding bridges or lug-sections having terminals adapted to be connected to the line-Wires, l trical sources of supply, and means of conpairs of U-shaped contact-points 0r keepers nection between sair bridges or lug-sec- With the open ends of each pair facing each Lions and a contact-point or keeper of each other, and adapted to provide for conjoint pair, substantially as described.

5 or simultaneous engagement with said con- In testimony whereof I affix my signature I5 ductors, respectively, to prevent the interin presence of two Witnesses. ruption of the current as said conductors are VILLIAM O. OALKINS. moved from one contact-point 0r keeper to Witnesses: the otherin transferring or taking the load H. E. OONAUT,

IO or current from either of a number of elec- 1 J. J. KIRBY, 

